Dying in Your Sleep: Possible Causes of Death

Why Do People Die in Their Sleep?

Have you ever heard of cases where people go to bed happy and well, only to be found dead the next morning? The possibility of a sudden and unexpected death is terrifying. It makes you feel anxious about the uncontrollable nature of life.

It might even lead to thoughts about whether you should bother going to sleep, at all. You go off to close your eyes merely because you want to take a breather – to retire and recharge. But, the breather turns out to be a permanent one.

Losing a loved one in this manner can be shocking, especially if the deceased person had no known health issues. One day, this person is so full of zest. The next day? He’s dead, and you could only scratch your head as you wonder about the cause. There are no warning signs. A bereaved family can’t help but accept the situation.

Even if it happens to someone you barely know, the thought of a person dying in his sleep is fearsome. It evokes the emotion that regardless of how much you try to avoid it, death comes - sometimes when you least expect it.

If you’re the person who regularly keeps himself conditioned to avoid sickness and eventual death, you may feel cheated. Even though you comply with your end of the bargain to be fit and healthy, you still can’t be the victor in the quest to prevent death. It’s as if all your efforts went down the drain.

On the other hand, some view death while sleeping as the most peaceful way to go. Compared to being a victim of a tragic vehicular accident, a crime, or an incurable disease, passing away in your sleep eliminates a great deal of struggle and pain.

Come to think of it, dying in your sleep seems to be a peaceful way to go, indeed. Some people think it’s a coward’s choice of dying. Others disagree by insisting that it’s brave. If an elderly person dies in his sleep, the thought is less terrifying - compared to the involvement of a young person who passed away without warning.

Nevertheless, is it a justifiable means to die?

People are sometimes so baffled by the death that they grasp for straws of explanation, resorting to ancient folklore or the belief that nightmares cause a person's death. As history records it, news that some people die during sleep are not recent. The fact that death comes unexpectedly is rather unfortunate, but it’s a fact that all of us should be aware of.

But believing in superstitious explanations is a very dangerous habit. Death during sleep isn’t caused by nightmares nor can be explained by ancient stories. Our best chances in understanding what causes it and why it happens with such regularity lies in the scientific community.

Medical professionals are quick to point out that there are scientific explanations and medical conditions that can cause death during sleep. In this article, we will explore some of these possibilities.

The line between sleep and death is sometimes questionable.

Sleep Apnea: Breathing Stops During Sleep

One disorder which commonly affects older people or infants and can cause death during sleep is central sleep apnea. It occurs due to your brain’s improper way of sending signals to your muscles.

Apnea refers to the pause or stop in breathing and each apnea's duration is about 10 seconds to a few minutes. What happens is that the sleeping person repeatedly stops breathing for a period of time throughout the night. The brain pauses in sending its signals to the muscles that manage breathing. Throughout the night, a person suffering from apnea may have 5 to 30 apneas each hour and as a result, there is an increased risk of death.

According to studies, humans are equipped with a certain amount of nerve cells which are responsible for commanding the body to breathe. As we grow old, these cells lessen in number. This loss of nerve cells increases an older person's chance of having central sleep apnea.

Likewise, certain health conditions like brain infection, cervical spine problems, obesity, and Parkinson's disease, stroke and heart failure can cause central sleep apnea. Particular illnesses, because they lead to dysfunctions, can bring about the fatal condition.

Another cause of sleep apnea is sleeping at a relatively high altitude - more than 2,500 meters above sea level. This is due to the unavailability of a sufficient amount of oxygen at high altitudes. The blood's reduced oxygen content induces instability in breathing.

While anyone can develop central sleep apnea, the condition is known to affect more males than females. The gender difference addresses the unique features of upper airway anatomy and upper airway muscle function in males.

Additionally, the effects of sex hormones are behind the prevalence of the condition in males. Females who are in the post-menopausal stage are less likely susceptible to develop the condition.

A preventive method of treating central sleep apnea is the use of supplemental oxygen. With a supply, blood gets its necessary oxygen content despite the periodic difficulty in breathing during an unconscious state.

Among the list of common symptoms includes sudden awakenings with shortness of breath, difficulty in staying asleep, chest pain during evenings, and excessive sleepiness during the day. If you have all of these symptoms, it doesn't immediately mean you need to worry.

Main Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Loud snoring

Gasping for air during sleep

Morning headaches

Excessive day time sleepiness or what is referred to as hypersomnia

Irritability

Episodes in which you stop breathing during your sleep. Other people who see you stop breathing during your sleep often report this.

Waking up with a very dry mouth

Difficulty in staying asleep or insomnia

Difficulty in paying attention while you are awake

If you are having some or all of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that you are suffering from central sleep apnea. It’s possible that you are afflicted by a completely different illness. There’s quite a good number of illnesses that have the same symptoms. Such illnesses include congestive heart failure, Hypothyroid Disease, kidney failure, amyotrophic lateral disease (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological diseases.

However, you should consider consulting a medical professional - to be certain and to rule out the possibility of the condition. Different doctors can treat central sleep apnea. Among them are:

Primary care physicians

Dentists

Neurologists

Surgeons

Psychiatrists and other specialists who treat mental health problems

Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialists

Sleep doctors

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Breathing Difficulty Due to Airway ObstructionSometimes, obstructive sleep apnea is mistaken to be similar to central sleep apnea. However, the two are different. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs more commonly than the latter.

It happens when the muscles in your throat intermittently relax and block the passageway while you're asleep. With this condition, your breathing pattern becomes abnormal and you begin to take shallow breaths.

To keep up with the new breathing pattern, your chest muscles and diaphragm need to work harder. Particularly, their new roles involve opening the obstructed passageway and pulling air into the lungs.

An apparent symptom of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Although, not all cases of snoring are indications of a person who suffers from the fatal condition. However, if a person snores noticeably loud (and he doesn't usually snore at all - or at least, that much), there may be an obstruction in his airway.

A popular method of treatment is the use if a mouthpiece while you're asleep. The purpose of the device is to thrust the jaw forward during an unconscious state. Doing so won't block the passageway to enable regular breathing patterns.

Differences Between Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA occurs when your upper ways get partially blocked or completely blocked while you are sleeping. Because of the obstruction, the muscles in your diaphragm and chest have to work much harder to open and free up the blocked airways and draw air towards your lungs.

Central Sleep Apnea or CSA occurs when your respiratory drive ceases to the point wherein it leads to a lack of respiratory movement. When you are asleep, your breathing is disrupted by the wrong messages from your brain. With Central Sleep Apnea, you are more than capable to breathe but your brain doesn’t tell your chest and lung muscles to breathe. Thus your body does not attempt to breathe.

To provide a practical illustration of the difference between Obstructive Hypopneas and Central Hypopneas, just think of a vacuum cleaner. If you are covering the suction nozzle of the cleaner with your hand, then it’s Obstructive Hypopneas. If you are using limited electricity to run the vacuum cleaner, then it’s Central Hypopneas.

It's Obstructive Hypopnea if you are experiencing paradoxical breathing, snoring during the event, a significant increase in PAP flow signal, and a flattening of nasal pressure flow. It’s Central Hypopnea if you do not experience any of the above.

When Should You See a Doctor?Loud snoring especially when you don’t usually snore can indicate a potentially serious problem. However, it is also worth noting here that not all who has sleep apnea snores. If you have several of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s highly recommended that you set an appointment with your doctor. Be as honest as possible with the physician. If you have a sleep problem that often leaves you irritable, unusually sleepy, and seemingly always fatigued, make it a point to inform your doctor about what you are going through.

Risk Factors For Central Sleep Apnea

Heart disorders. If you are currently suffering from any type of heart disorder, then you are more susceptible to developing a central sleep apnea problem. The risk significantly increases if you have congestive heart failure. Furthermore, you are also in higher risk if your immediate family has a history of heart problems. It’s likely that you have inherited the genes that cause some of these heart problems.

Being male. It is already a proven fact that central sleep apnea tends to develop more often in males than in females. A good number of published population studies back up this fact. Unfortunately, there is no definitive explanation for the discrepancy but there are several pathophysiological differences that may explain the discrepancy. Such differences include aging mechanisms, hormones, breathing control, upper airway anatomy, and obesity. All of these differences are believed to play a role in the development of central sleep apnea.

Suffered a stroke. If you have had a stroke, this greatly increases your risk for central sleep apnea. This is why a huge percentage of stroke victims are often diagnosed with central sleep apnea sooner or later.

Being of older age. You have a much higher risk for central sleep apnea if you are middle-aged and above. It is commonly believed that the prevalence of sleep apnea increases with age.

You are also at risk if you are currently using narcotic pain medications. Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and opiates can all affect your breathing and lead to the development of central sleep apnea. Opiates can cause sleepiness as a side effect. They can cause significant effects on your breathing while you are asleep. Some of the most common opiates include hydrocodone, fentanyl, methadone, sufentanil, propoxyphene, pentazocine, oxycodone, mepridine, morphine, codeine, and buprenorphine. They can play a role in the development of central sleep apnea because when taken in the body, they can result to shallow breaths, irregular breathing, and increased respiratory pauses.

Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Nasal congestion. It's already established that if there's any sort of obstruction in your nasal cavity, you have higher risks of developing obstructive sleep apnea. The congestion causes you to find it difficult to breathe through your nose. It does not matter if the congestion is due to allergies or due to an anatomical problem.

Excessive weight or obesity. When fat accumulates around your upper airways, they tend to start choking you out. You will start having difficulty in breathing because the airways are obstructed. There is a reason why many obese people are often diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. If you are overweight, you should start shedding those extra pounds before they cause you any problems like obstructive sleep apnea.

If you are a regular smoker, you are at a higher risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. In fact, studies and statistics show that if you are a smoker, you are three times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than a person who do not smoke cigarettes. Why is this the case? The answer is simple. When you smoke, you are increasing the amount of fluid retention and inflammation in your upper airways. These obstruct your breathing.

The circumference of your neck. A person with a thick neck tends to be more susceptible to obstructive sleep apnea than a person with a narrower neck. A person with a thick neck may have a narrow airway. This obstructs breathing.

Use of tranquilizers, sedatives, and alcohol. If you are using any of these substances, you are at a higher risk. These substances can amplify the effects of obstructive sleep apnea because they relax the muscles in your throat.

You have a narrow upper airway. There is always the possibility that your airway is anatomically narrow. It's naturally narrow in the sense that you are not suffering from any disease that made it narrow. In other words, you inherited a really narrow throat. With that said, it's nearly impossible to find a cure for an obstructive sleep apnea that's caused by a naturally narrow airway. A surgery can be done but this is often not advised by medical doctors. The narrow airway can be worsened by either adenoids or tonsils. This often happens in children.

Many of those in your family have obstructive sleep apneas. Family history is something that you should always take into account if you are more susceptible to obstructive sleep apnea. Always keep in mind that sleep apnea can be hereditary. If you have family members who suffer from the condition, then you have a higher risk of suffering from it as well.

Being male. If you are a man, you are three times more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The condition is more prevalent in men than in women. However, if you are a female, your risk increases if you are obese and overweight. Furthermore, your risk also increases right after your menopause. This has been verified by several studies that aimed to understand the connections between menopause and obstructive sleep apnea.

Being old. Older adults are the most common victims of obstructive sleep apnea. This is because sleep disorders and sleep troubles increase with age. At least 50% of adults who are aged 65 and above have some form of chronic sleep related issues such as trouble maintaining sleep, difficulty falling asleep, and decreasing hours of nightly sleep. Below is a quick look at the statistics regarding obstructive sleep apnea in men.

3.2% prevalence in males who are between 20 and 44 years old

11.3% prevalence in males who are between 45 and 64 years old

18.1% prevalence in males who are between 64 and 100 years old

Complications of Sleep Apnea

You should never underestimate the seriousness of sleep apnea as a medical condition. It can cause a lot of more severe complications such as the following:

Issues with the liver. There is a connection between liver problems and sleep apnea. When a person with sleep apnea takes a liver function test, he usually gets abnormal results. The livers of people with sleep apnea are also more likely to show some signs of scarring.

Metabolic syndrome. Sleep apnea can cause metabolic syndrome. This disorder is characterized by an increased waist circumference, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. Needless to say, metabolic syndrome is linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

High blood pressure and other heart problems. If you have sleep apnea, blood oxygen levels can suddenly drop while you are sleeping. This imposes a lot of strain in your cardiovascular system. This increases your risk for hypertension.

Daytime fatigue. Sleep apnea causes you to often wake up several times during the night. This leads to regular lack of sleep. In other words, sleep apnea makes it almost impossible to have restorative sleep. This makes you sleepy, drowsy, fatigued and easily irritated during the day.

Type 2 diabetes. There is a proven connection between Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. This is because your insulin resistance is heightened by sleep apnea.

Complications with medications and surgery. Sleep apnea can get in the way with scheduled surgeries and medications that you may be having. For example, if you have sleep apnea, you are more susceptible to surgery complications because you are prone to breathing difficulties especially when you have been sedated.

SADS: Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome

SADS (Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome, although sometimes people assume the A stands for "adult,") is often used as the term for a sudden, undetermined cause of death in adults. These syndromes are genetic heart conditions that can cause sudden death in young and apparently healthy people. Usually, the people who died from SADS did not know they had any heart issues, but if diagnosed, these conditions can be treated and deaths can be prevented.

Some warning signs for heart issues are:

a family history of unexplained or unexpected death under the age of 40,

persistent or unusual chest pain and/or shortness of breath during exercise, and

fainting spells or seizures during exercise or excitement.

"Arrhythmia" refers to the irregular beating of one's heart. It means your heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly. Tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia which involves a fast heartbeat of 100 beats or more each minute, while the type of arrhythmia which describes a slow heartbeat of about 60 beats or less each minute is bradycardia. Normally, when there is a temporary change in one's cardiac rhythm or heartbeat, it's not necessarily dangerous, but arrhythmic heartbeats cease to be non-threatening if the heart rate stays irregular for a long time.

SADS can also affect people who do not have structural heart disease and appear to be healthy. The person just dies suddenly due to cardiac arrest without exhibiting any symptoms of heart disease. What happens is that blood flow towards the brain stops and the person slips into unconsciousness and eventually into death.

In many cases, if the cause of death is unknown, medical examiners may attribute the death to SADS. Especially if the involvement of drugs is absent, the vague but fatal condition is the culprit.

Alongside, SADS introduces channelopathies or a term for relatively rare diseases. These rare diseases involve an exhibition of symptoms that affect the heart's electrical functions. You can refer to them as the "silent killers" since they cause sudden death without any hints, at all.

Some of these channelopathies are:

Brugada syndrome - This is a condition wherein the heart’s normal rhythm is disrupted which leads to irregular heart beats in the lower chambers and ventricles of the heart.

Sodium channel disease - A problem occurs if a sodium channel is inactivated. If the sodium channel is blocked, muscles cannot contract. When this happens to muscles responsible in making sure that respiratory and circulatory organs are working properly, then it can lead to SADS (sudden arrhythmia death syndrome).

Short QT syndrome - This is a condition that also disrupts the heart’s normal rhythm. As a result, the heart muscles take much less time than usual to recharge in between heart beats. This condition can be detected through an electrocardiogram or ECG.

Long QT syndrome - This condition can cause very fast and chaotic heart beats. These fast beats are dangerous because they can trigger seizures and fainting spells. If the irregularly fast beats continue for so long, they can cause sudden cardiac death.

PCCD or Progressive Cardiac Conduction Defect - Also known as Lev-Lenegre’s Syndrome, this is a rare condition wherein the electrical impulses of the heart are conducted too slowly that it results in the gradual development of a heart block. Heart block happens when the electrical impulses of the heart fail to conduct properly from the atria (top chambers) to the ventricles (bottom chambers).

Causes & Treatment of SADS

Causes of SADS

If the sudden death happened to a young person, it may have been caused by a heart disease (i.e. conduction disease, genetic connective tissue disorders, myocarditis, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy).

It can also be caused by medication that went wrong.

It can also be caused or aggravated by channelopathies such as Short QT syndrome, mixed sodium channel disease, early repolarisation syndrome, progressive cardiac conduction defect or PCCD, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or CPVT, Brugada syndrome, and Long QT syndrome.

There are also other factors that may play a role in SADS that medical examiners often take into account such as genetics, metabolism, heart disease, toxicology, and nutrition.

Treatment for SADSThere is only one proven way to prevent SADS and that is through the utilization of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. This is an automated device that is implanted inside the body. It is able to perform defibrillation, cardioversion, and pacing of the heart. With that said, it has the ability to correct a lot of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The latest types of implantable cardioverter defibrillators can be programmed so that these will be able to detect heart rhythms that are considered as abnormal. The devices can also deliver much-needed therapy through programmable antitachycardia pacing.

Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome: Bangungot

Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome, Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS), or Sudden Unknown Nocturnal Death Syndrome are all terms for a syndrome first noted in 1915 in the Philippines and again in Japan in 1959, where it was named pokkuri ("sudden death").

Thailand, Laos, and Hawaii have their own experience with and words for the syndrome. It was seen in 1975 in a population of Hmong refugees in the US and subsequently noted in Singapore, where records showed that 230 otherwise healthy Thai men died unexpectedly and without apparent cause between 1982 and 1990. In the Philippines, where this syndrome affects 43 out of 100,000 yearly, is referred to as bangungot in the Tagalog language, the word for "nightmare" which translates as "to arise and moan."

In all cases in all countries, most of the victims are young Southeast Asian males.

SUNDS has been cloaked in mystery and superstition (see descriptions of folklores and myths below). Many Filipinos believe eating large quantities of carbohydrates just before sleeping causes bangungot. Autopsy reveals that the victims have no evidence of heart diseases or structural heart problems, but cardiac activity during a SUNDS episode indicates arrhythmia may be the culprit.

In the Philippines, however, most cases have been linked with acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. During sleep, the pancreas may get inflamed, possibly as a result of the excessive intake of carbohydrates before sleeping.

A non-fictional counterpart of Bangungot is asphyxia or suffocation. Due to the extreme deprivation of oxygen, the body feels trapped. The feeling of suffocation is unrealizable unless the person wakes up.

Due to a lack of oxygen supply during sleep, the person’s internal organs begin to function abnormally. The abnormal function is painful, but because it happens during unconsciousness, pain won’t be felt. Without intervention, the internal organs slowly shut down, and cause death.

The only proven way to prevent death by SUNDS is by implantation of a cardiovertor defibrillator.

A cardiovertor defibrillator (ICD) is a device designed especially for people suffering from ventricular tachycardia. It's a battery-powered preventive device. Doctors place it under the skin to monitor heart rate. It establishes connection to the heart via thin wires.

It works by restoring heartbeat and is on standby 24 hours per day – granted that it has working batteries. If it detects abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers an electric shock that will restore a normal heartbeat. Especially if your heart beats much too rapidly, the device will come to the rescue.

An ICD, however, isn't easily available. Most medical professionals don't grant permission of the implantation of a defibrillator unless it's a serious health issue. This is due to the failure of many to distinguish the benefits of the device from its limitations.

Before being granted to have an ICD, a person will undergo thorough medical evaluation from heart doctors. If all of the measures have been ruled out, and if its only choice, the device will be given.

Deaths due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are sometimes the most sudden, unexplainable, and grievous of all.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Dying in one's sleep happens to infants as well, and these are sometimes the most unexpected, unexplainable, and grievous deaths. SIDS, commonly called crib death, is the medical term for unexpected deaths that occur in infants under one year old. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants from 1 month to 1 year old. The majority of deaths due to SIDS happen between 2 and 4 months of age. Boys are more likely than girls to fall victim to SIDS. Incidence increases during cold weather.

How it affects infants exactly is a mystery. Usually, the infant is found dead in their crib after having been put to bed, with no evidence of struggle. Even an autopsy does not reveal the precise cause of death.

The exact cause of SIDS is still a mystery, although one theory is that a sleep arousal problem may be a factor. Other theories include a birth defect, a failure to develop, a reaction to infection, and/or an underlying biological vulnerability in an infant who has reached a taxing developmental stage and is exposed to an external trigger. In many cases, accidental suffocation, hyperthermia, hypothermia, neglect, or some other determined cause may have been attributed to SIDS.

Since no one is sure of its cause, methods of prevention are unknown as well. SIDS prevention strategies include having the baby sleep on its back in a crib on a firm mattress without loose bedding in a relatively cool sleeping environment, having the infant sleep near caregivers but separate from them (room sharing but not bed sharing), and avoiding exposure to tobacco smoke.

Risk factors include sleeping in bed with parents or siblings, placing the infant on its stomach or side for sleep, exposure to cigarette smoke, and sleeping on soft cushions with excessive blankets, pillows, clothing, or stuffed animals.

Risk Factors Associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The causes of SIDS are unknown. However, research studies point to various risk factors for the syndrome. There is good evidence to show that the prevalence of SIDS is affected by cultural, economic, and social factors. Such factors include poverty, ethnicity, race, and maternal education. For example, infants born in an impoverished nation has higher risks of SIDS. The risk factors identified for SIDS are as follows:

Tobacco smoke. There tends to be a connection between mothers smoking and the prevalence of cases of sudden infant death syndrome. The rates of SIDS is much higher in babies who were born from mothers who smoke cigarettes. These are from mothers who smoke while being pregnant. There are higher levels of derivatives and nicotine in infants born from mothers who smoke. It is a well established fact that derivatives and nicotine has a negative effect in the unborn baby’s fetal neurodevelopment.

Methods in putting the baby to sleep. If a mother puts a baby to sleep on his side or on his stomach, this increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome. Babies who are aged two to three months are exposed to the highest risk when it comes to sleeping positions. Sleeping position isn’t the only factor that increases risk for SIDS. Other triggers include elevated room temperature, excessive bedding, excessive clothing, stuffed animals beside the baby, and very soft sleep surfaces. Even common bumper pads can increase risk for SIDS. Bumper pads can suffocate the sleeping child. This is why bumper pads are not recommended for babies who are under one year of age.

Alcohol. Parents who drink alcohol can also increase the risk for a baby to die from SIDS. There are two well-known studies that have shown a positive connection between parents who drink alcohol and infants who die from SIDS. One study showed a correlation between a spike in sudden infant deaths during New Year’s Eve celebrations and weekends. These are the times where parents drink and celebrate. The other study found out that infants with parents who have alcohol use disorder are two times more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome.

Genetics. Medical examiners have come to the conclusion that genetics plays a role in sudden infant death syndrome for the simple reason that it is more prevalent in males. Statistics show that for every two female babies who die from SIDS, three male babies die from the same condition.

Pregnancy and infant factors. Teenage mothers have the greatest risk of having their babies die from sudden infant death syndrome. Rates of the SIDS decrease with increasing maternal age. This means that more babies by young mothers die from the syndrome. Older parents are more experienced in taking care of their babies so there are less deaths.

Ways on How to Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Vaccination. Certain types of immunization can help in lessening the risk for sudden infant death syndrome. There was an investigative study once performed by researchers in Berlin. They found out that increased DTP immunization coverage is connected with the decrease in mortality caused by SIDS. This is not the only study that reached conclusions that vaccinations reduce the risks for sudden infant death syndrome. These studies generally arrived at the conclusion that vaccinations halved the risk for SIDS.

Proper sleep positioning. It has been found that making a baby sleep on his or her back can significantly reduce the risk of SIDS. In fact, the strategy has been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP. The practice is also being promoted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or NICHD in the United States. When the strategy was recommended in other countries, cases of SIDS would usually go down. This proves that the practice is very effective in lowering the risks for SIDS.

Using proper bedding materials. The type of materials the baby sleeps upon plays a role as a risk factor. The baby is always at risk for sudden infant death syndrome if he or she sleeps with stuffed animals, fluffy bedding, crib bumpers, bumper pads, sleep positioners, soft pillows, and overly soft mattresses. Furthermore, you should never ever put blankets or pieces of clothing over the baby's head while he or she sleeps. These can suffocate the baby while asleep.

Use of pacifiers. There is a very good reason why the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend parents to use pacifiers when putting their new babies to sleep. Although the reason is quite unclear, using a pacifier tends to decrease cases of sudden infant death syndrome.

Use of sleeping sacks for babies. What is a sleeping sack? This is basically a baby sleep bag which has holes for the baby's head and arms. The bag can be closed around the baby with a zipper. The sleeping bag maintains the baby's body temperature. This type of bedding has also been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Furthermore, there was a study published in the European Journal of Pediatrics that showed the benefits of using a sleeping sack for babies. For one, the sack is helpful in reducing the incidence of turning from back to front while sleeping. Two, the sleeping sack prevents other beddings from getting to the infant's face. And three, the sack helps in keeping and maintaining the baby's body temperature thus preventing sudden swings in body temperature.

Put the baby to sleep in a firm bed without any soft toys and soft beddings. This prevents suffocation or smothering. If you are unsure if the crib or mattress you are using is safe for your baby, you can get in touch with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can call them on their hotline number.

Do not smoke if you are pregnant. Always remember that babies born from women who smoked cigarettes during pregnancy are three times more likely to die from SIDS. And don't let anyone smoke around you. Secondhand smoke can hurt you and your baby as much as the smoke coming from your own cigarettes.

Out your baby to sleep in the same room where you sleep. Put the baby's crib beside your bed if necessary. This way you can watch over the baby much closer.

Breastfeed your baby for as long as you can. This is known to reduce the risks for SIDS. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) advises parents to use breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for the baby for about six (6) months. As of now there is no definitive proof showing a correlation between breastfeeding and a lesser risk of SIDS. However, the numbers do not lie. Several research studies have shown that babies who are breastfeed are less likely to die in their sleep compared to babies who are not breastfeed.

See to it that the baby's room is cool and that it is not so warm nor stuffy. Hot stuffy air makes it a lot more difficult for a baby to breathe with ease.

Avoid the risk of overheating by dressing the baby properly before putting him or her to sleep. Avoid bundling the baby in too many clothes. Make sure that parts of the clothes or bedding do not cover the baby's face and head. Furthermore, as a parent, you should always be on the lookout for the warning signs of overheating such as sweating and the baby's chest feeling hot or too warm to the touch.

Always be vigilant at night when the baby is asleep. Make it a habit to check up on the baby every few hours or so.

The bottom line here is that there are very specific risk factors associated with sudden infant death syndrome. As a new or an expecting parent, you should be fully aware of these risk factors. Knowledge about these could make all the difference between a dead baby and one who makes it out alive. Let's just say that the causes of sudden infant death syndrome are unknown but at least we now know several of the risk factors.

Blood Clotting

Steady flow of blood in our veins is very important for our body to function properly. Small clots are not health threatening and can easily be resolved by medication. However, when large amounts of blood form into clumps and restrict the blood's movement in our vital organs (like the heart or brain), clots become a health threat.

Usually, after accidents like cutting one's skin or having a bad fall, blood coagulates, making a scab. Usually, the body will naturally dissolve the clot after the injury has healed. But sometimes, clots form on the inside of vessels or fail to dissolve naturally and cause a blockage.

Dying in your sleep as a result of blood clotting happens when the clot forms and drifts into a major vessel in your heart or brain. That is why medical professionals perform MRI's and CT scans on trauma victims to detect blood clotting or possible internal organ damage.

The failure to detect blood clotting is fatal. The sad part about it is that death is supposed to be avoidable in this situation. Incompetency isn’t a usual issue. Even the most experienced medical professionals can miss identifying a blood clot. If this occurs, the doctors would feel helpless, but admit defeat, in the end.

Drug Intervention

Throughout history, there are numerous reported cases of people dying in their sleep due to drug overdose. The most controversial of these deaths involve high-profile celebrities lifeless being found dead in their hotel rooms.

Taking drugs, particularly psychedelic drugs, can be expensive. However, since psychedelic drugs provide an incomparable feeling of escape, some people, figure out means to avail of them. Regardless of the illegal nature of some drugs, those who can afford them don't hesitate to treat themselves.

If a prolific figure with an excellent-paying job engages in psychedelic drugs, and he falls asleep minutes after, his body's reaction may lead to death. These drugs have insanely powerful effects, and unfortunately, they have dangerous effects on the body.

While these drugs can alleviate a form of suffering and reward short-term euphoria, they can instantly put you down. Since their effects can dramatically influence particular systems in the brain, they can accompany increased blood pressure, otherworldly hallucinations, and rapid heart rate.

Dying in your sleep due to the effects of drugs is worrisome. An unfortunate part about it is that, there's no guarantee of the amount that can cause an overdose. Thus, when taking these drugs, there is an unwritten agreement that the user is about to gamble his life.

Take, for instance, heroin. A user is aware that it's one of the most powerful drugs. However, he remains unaware of its exact power. He just takes it, and crosses his fingers that it won't kill him. Since it controls breathing, blood pressure, and the temperature levels, it can drastically damage a person's system. Without warning, heroin can kill in a matter of seconds.

Another issue with drug use and links to death in your sleep is the legality of some dangerous drugs. While they bring beneficial effects, they can also be fatal to the body.

A drug called Phenazepam, for one. It's a legal drug that many pharmaceutical companies sell. It works as a sleeping pill and provides relief for anxiety patients. An overdose is likely for patients who continually take it since it has a pharmaceutical life of more than 50 hours. This means that it can stay in your system for more than 2 days.

The key is to be extra careful all the time, and be mindful of moderate doses - whether or not you're about to go to sleep. Regardless of the drug per se, it is important to ask a doctor more about your medications. At best, inform him of all the drugs that you're taking. This way, each drug can work properly.

Drug & Alcohol Combinations

In addition to drug intervention as a cause of dying in your sleep, the combined effects of drugs and alcohol is a factor. Drugs, by themselves, are powerful. Taking them with alcohol is not recommended.

Alcohol may bring about positive effects for your health. However, if it is taken without moderation, it can be disadvantageous. You can become easily addicted to it, too. And, if it is taken as a part of a tandem, the possibility of drastic effects is not out of the picture.

In this cases, particular drugs along with alcohol have devastating effects on the body. Some of them are:

Benzodiazopene + alcohol

The drug, benzodiazopene, is on the top 10 major causes of drug-related deaths in 2009. On its own, and without the supervision of a physician, it can result to tragedy. Particularly, it can compromise the functions of the respiratory system.

Although benzodiazopene greatly relieves aches, it can cause a fatal effect when taken together with alcohol. Alcohol contains elements that interact with this drugs effects. The safe bet is to take it with water instead, and (depending on a physician’s instructions), avoid going to sleep immediately.

Prescription pain killers + alcohol

Prescription painkillers such as morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl can be deadly if you take them with alcohol. In fact, prescription pain killers, when downed with alcohol, are the cause of one third to drug-related hospitalizations.

A person's intent in taking pain killers with alcohol may simply be about receiving short-term relief. To maximize the soothing effects, going to bed is an option. It's not rare for him to want to doze off to sleep right after.

The most common victims of the fatal tandem are young females. Since females are more prone to taking pain killers than men, the young ones can sometimes overdo it. Sadly, due to the lack of information, they belong to the age group that consumes the most alcohol.

Cocaine + alcohol

Cocaine and alcohol, known to be a common cause, of ER visits, can lead to serious organ damage. Particularly, it can cause irreparable damage to the cardiovascular and the hepatic systems due to the powerful effects of both substances.

Additionally, they end up forming cocaethylene, or a toxic chemical. Are you familiar with the singer Whitney Houston? Reports say that cocaine and alcohol were behind her death.

Years of taking cocaine alone is known to exacerbate particular cardiovascular diseases. the susceptibility of death during sleep for someone with an underlying cardiovascular disease increases. Thus, it’s best to set aside the drug first.

Needless to say, it’s never a good idea to drink alcohol if you are currently taking medications or leisure drugs. Mixing the two substances often leads to overdoses. When you sleep with a lot of the substances in your system, you will be susceptible to dying because your body can’t take the combined effects of the substances. Case in point is the much publicized death of actor Heath Ledger. The young actor’s death had something to do with alcohol and sleeping pills.

Old Age

A common cause of death is old age. There are some people who are fortunate enough to die old. Although we may want a more specific reason, their age seems to be the main cause as they may not have experienced major illnesses before dying.

According to the World Health Organization, the current life expectancy is around 70-72 years of age. In the earlier years, the life expectancy was relatively higher. There are records of people who lived more than 100 years old.

Among the list of signs that death for an elderly is near includes appetite reduction, physical changes, and exhaustion of the usual activities. Even if you can't point a finger on it, they just seem off. Regardless of not talking about the subject, they tend to be distant.

Increased sleep is also a sign that an elderly is about to pass away. It suggests exhaustion, and the longing to be absent. In such a case, it is best not to intervene since it can be distressing for him. For loved ones, letting an elderly be during this state can be painful. It will make them feel helpless, but not forcing him to be awake is the more practical option.

If an elderly starts the habit of going to sleep for relatively longer periods (e.g. 14 hours instead of the usual 12-hour sleep), you may have to pick up on it, too. Avoid waking him up since he may no longer have the energy to open his eyes. Come a week or two (or even less), he may drift off to eternal rest.

When the body is in the process of shutting down, it means that its parts are starting to shut down, too. In most situations of elderly people, they sleep more because their bodies no longer have the energy to be present. They may make special requests such as wanting to hear an old song or contacting an important person.

Sometimes, these special requests can be downright illogical. However, the goal is to be understanding and practice compassion. Remember, they are not in their best conditions. They will be grateful for anything that can uplift their spirits.

Technically, old age is not a cause of dying. Upon reaching a particular age, say 80 or 90, it does not mean that you're automatically going to die. To expound, the term that that a person who died of old age succumbed to the natural causes of death (that are associated with old age).

When you age, your cells gradually die and your body's systems debilitate. For instance, a very old person who is dying may lose appetite, shed weight fast, experience sleeplessness or oversleep, and lose bladder control. These are some signs which indicate that the body is shutting down. Simple medical conditions, when combined, can cause an old body to give up its functions. It is normal for systems to eventually shut down in old age. So while the death certificate may claim that the cause of death was heart-related, the heart issue was merely a symptom of old age.

In cases that involve the death of an elderly person during sleep, medical professionals see no reason to investigate closely. Especially if an elderly is suffering from multiple underlying conditions, doctors don't find it mysterious if he passes away eventually. In fact, it can be an invasion of one's privacy.

The logic is quite simple. Take for example an old car. When an old car is clearly in bad condition, it is no surprise if it gives out in the middle of a long road trip. that's the case with an old person, too. if he's 90 years old with multiple underlying conditions, it can mean that his internal organs stopped functioning. Thus, providing a specific cause of death is unnecessary.

In official statements, old age is less commonly specified as the cause of an old person's death. Rather, medical professionals would put "multiple organ failure" in medical records.

Dying in your sleep due to advanced age is acceptable in the context of human biology. We can’t live forever. When you hit age 65, anything can happen in your sleep especially if you are suffering from other types of illnesses. Getting old is something that we should all accept so that we will be ready when our time comes.

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)

SCD(Sudden Cardiac Death) is another cause of unexpected death in your sleep. This condition describes the sudden loss of heart function during an unconscious state. It is one of the major causes of death in adults, and it is responsible for many deaths related to heart diseases.

SCD is not a heart attack per se. Rather, it is a condition that occurs during a heart attack. When the heart's electrical system malfunctions and exhibits irregularity, the heart beats rapidly – and dangerously. Since ventricular fibrillation occurs, the body's oxygen supply is cut out entirely.

During the first minutes, there is a drastic reduction in the blood supply to the brain. Since the reduction can be unbearable, the person starts to lose consciousness. As the condition lasts longer, death becomes inevitable unless immediate emergency treatment follows.

Unfortunately, in majority of SCD cases, SCD occurs without signs. Regardless if you're in good shape, the condition will come as a surprise. If you're feeling a bit lightheaded or nauseated without reason, consider it as a warning. Your heart may be notifying you of a problematic heart rhythm.

A recommended method of emergency treatment is cardiopulmonary treatment (or more commonly known as CPR). It is a manual method of keeping the airway open for enough oxygen to enter the brain. Applying CPR until the restoration of normal heart rhythm is best.

What's The Difference Between a Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

It is very important that we make a clear distinction between the two because a lot of people often confuse one with the other. Sudden cardiac death is not the same as a heart attack. SCD is something that can potentially happen during a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when one or more of the arteries leading to the heart gets blocked which means the heart won’t receive enough blood that is rich with oxygen. If oxygen-rich blood can’t reach the heart, the heart gets damaged.

On the other hand, a sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and the beats become very irregular. The heart’s beat speeds up to very dangerous levels. Ventricles start to quiver which means blood isn’t delivered to various parts of the body. If the amount of blood flowing to the brain is significantly reduced, that’s when the problem becomes serious. In just the first few minutes, the person can lose consciousness because of the loss of blood to the head. If the condition continues without emergency treatment, the person can die. If the person dies, it is recorded as another case of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

The Risk Factors Associated with Sudden Cardiac Arrest (Death)

If you have previously gone through a heart attack, then you are at higher risk. This is especially true if a large section of your heart has been damaged during the initial attack. About 75% of cases of SCD are linked to previous heart attacks.

During the first six months after a heart attack, you are at a much higher risk for SCA or SCD.

If you have a coronary artery disease. This is a very common disease that affects millions of people. It usually results from the build-up of plaque in the arteries. Around 80% of SCD cases are linked with coronary artery disease. It’s also worth mentioning here that coronary artery disease has its own risk factors and these are as follows: high cholesterol, family history of heart disease, hypertension, and smoking. You should be aware of these.

Ejection fraction of below 40%. Ejection fraction refers to the measurement of blood that the left ventricle pumps out with every contraction. If such measurement is below 40%, then you are at a higher risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

A history of sudden cardiac arrest in the family. This also includes family or personal history for certain abnormal heart rhythms such as heart blocks, extremely low heart rates, Wolff Parkinson White syndrome, short QT syndrome, and long QT syndrome.

Diabetes and obesity. There is considerable evidence implicating hypoglycemia as a cause of sudden death in people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Consuming drugs that are considered as pro-arrhythmic can heighten the risk for life-threatening arrythmias.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a thickened muscle in the heart that compromises especially the ventricles.

Failure of the heart. Heart failure occurs when the pumping power of the heart is much weaker than usual. A person who experiences heart failure is up to nine times more likely to suffer from ventricular arrythmias. This can eventually lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

How to Reduce Your Risk Factors for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (Death)

Learn to properly manage health conditions that include high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Learn to manage diabetes if you are suffering from either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Make it a habit to exercise regularly. Exercise routines that are good for the heart include running, jogging, biking, swimming, stretching, weights, resistance bands, yoga, and even meditation.

Start losing weight. As we have mentioned earlier, being overweight increases your risk of dying from a cardiac arrest or heart attack.

Quit smoking and limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Can Sudden Cardiac Death Be Prevented?

What you need to do is look at the list of risk factors we have enumerated above. If you have several of the risks, we highly suggest that you talk with a doctor and learn about the possible measures you can take to reduce the risks. This is the only prevention step you can take because cardiac arrests and heart attacks often happen out of nowhere. Always make it a habit to check in with your doctor. Take the medications that are prescribed for you. Make some important lifestyle changes for a healthier heart and body. You can also consider going through interventional surgery or other procedures that are recommended by your doctor. These are all geared towards lessening the risks that you will die from a sudden cardiac arrest.

Dying in Your Sleep Because of Pneumonia

There is a reason why pneumonia is often described as the old man's best friend. A lot of people die from complications of pneumonia during their sleep. Although it can be a painless and sublime way to die, it can be shocking how sudden and quick it can be. With that said, if you think you have pneumonia, you should get medical care immediately. Most cases of pneumonia can be easily treated with a round of proper antibiotics.

When a person gets afflicted with pneumonia, his body works double time so that it can often be very difficult to breathe. You feel exhausted most of the time even though you spend your days and nights resting and sleeping. When your body is subjected to too much distress due to pneumonia, it is absolutely possible that your body fails to function properly and completely shuts down while you are asleep.

Majority of those people who perish from pneumonia in their sleep have compromised immune systems. This weakening of the immune system may be due to an illness or because the patient is very young or is afflicted with old age. With their immune system down and not working 100%, they are more susceptible to the effects of pneumonia. There's a reason why most of those who die in their sleep due to pneumonia are children and old people.

Always keep in mind that pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs. The infection can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The infection leads to nasty inflammation in the air sacs of your lungs. If not treated properly, the infection can get to dangerous levels wherein the lungs start to break down. This eventually leads to the whole body shutting down.

Pneumonia combined with a heart illness can be very dangerous. Various complications can also arise. With that said, you need to regularly have a checkup with your doctor and seek advice on how to deal with your pneumonia and the other illness.

Dreams About Someone Else Dying: What Do They Mean?

Dreams about someone dying is quite common. That someone is mostly a person you know. It could be a family member, a close friend, a good neighbor, or someone from work. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that you don't dream about people you don't know or barely know. It's kind of rare but it definitely happens. In fact, it's more common for you to dream about other people dying than for you to dream about yourself dying.

Deaths in dreams can be interpreted in two ways. You can take the spiritual approach or you can take the scientific approach. With the spiritual approach, you interpret the dreams based on your instincts, your feelings, and your religion. Needless to say, this approach provides answers depending on the person interpreting the dream. For example, a religious person will have different interpretations compared to a non-religious person.

If you take the scientific approach, dreams about someone else dying don't mean anything. There is no scientific evidence to show that if you dream about someone dying, that person is going to die sooner or later. Most claims of a person dying after someone dreamed of him or her dying are mere coincidences. And let's not forget the fact that we all die at one point. That's like every dream out there of someone dying will sort of come true, eventually. But there is no evidence to show that there is causation between a person dreaming of someone's death and that someone dying as a result of the dream. These are all but unsubstantiated myths, folk tales, and urban legends.

What do you think?

In your opinion, would dying in one's sleep be painless and peaceful?

Folklore and Myths about Dying in Your Sleep

The cultures and traditions of Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines include myths regarding nightmares during one's sleep which cause the dreamer's death. According to folklore, a healthy person comes home after a tiring day, eats a very heavy meal, and goes straight to bed, where they suffer from a terrible nightmare which causes them to die. In those traditions, nightmares about falling off a cliff or being attacked by a monster are believed to be responsible for a sleeper's death.

The Hmong people of Laos ascribe these deaths to a malign spirit, dab tsuam (pronounced "da cho"), who comes in the form of a jealous woman. Hmong men may even go to bed dressed as women to avoid attracting this spirit. Bangungot, or sleep-death, is depicted in the Philippines as a creature called batibat, a hag-like creature that sits on the victim's face or chest, pins him down, and steals his breath.

Superstitious people in the Philippines believe that bangungot is caused by going to sleep too early, going to sleep after eating a very heavy meal, or going to sleep after drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages. They advise that if you don't want to risk dying in your sleep, you should not eat too much or drink too much alcohol prior to sleeping in your bed.

In Thailand, the term for dying in your sleep is lai tai. Lai means dreaming or screaming and tai means death. Folklore in Thailand attribute this type of death to a monster of the night they refer to as the "widow ghost". According to local legends, the "widow ghost" roams around the countryside at night looking for healthy young men. The “widow ghost” would enter a healthy man's sleeping quarters and snuff out his life. The number of young people dying in their sleep in Thailand is quite high. Estimates show that 26 to 40 people die in their sleep per 100,000 population.

In Japan, sudden death during sleep is called pokkuri. In medical literature, the term Pokkuri Death Syndrome is used. Pokkuri basically means “peaceful death in one's sleep”. Japanese folklore attribute the condition to various causes. However, scientific research is slowly starting to shed light on what causes pokkuri. A great resource on the matter is a research paper by Katsuyuki Nakajima, Sanae Takeichi, Yasuhiro Nakajima, and Masaki Fujita. Their paper carries the title Pokkuri Death Syndrome: Sudden Cardiac Death Cases Without Coronary Atherosclerosis in South Asian Young Males. It's a good and informative read for those who want to learn more about sudden death syndromes in Japan and South Asia in general.

However, researchers have found physiological causes for Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS: see this syndrome described described above).

Sleep paralysis can lead to SUNDS, which then results to death. Due to the possibility, many people are terrified. The condition is presumed as scary since it establishes a link to alien abductions, inexplicable kidnappings, and evil of sorts. Throughout history, some perceive the condition as a hint to unpleasant elements.

With the inability to move during a conscious state, some people assume that a person is held captive by an evil creature. Apart from being unable to move, the inability to speak is part of the haunting experience. Sometimes, it comes with the feeling of tightness and suffocation, too.

However, according to sleep experts, the fear surrounding sleep paralysis may be a bit exaggerated. Practically speaking, experiencing the condition is the body's way of saying that it is moving quite roughly throughout the stages of sleep.

Its bothersome nature is merely a misconception. There's simply a problematic nature in your sleeping cycle. Contrary to a few claims, deep psychiatric disorders do not trigger it.

The solution is to correct an underlying sleeping problem. In many cases, the problem is due to poor sleeping habits. If you get insufficient amount of sleep, you're overworked, or you're under loads of pressure, you might want to relax for a bit. After prioritizing your mental wellness, you'll likely see the improvement in your sleep. More importantly, experiencing sleep paralysis is a thing of the past.

The subject of hypnagogic jerk also comes to the picture of dying in your sleep. A hypnagogic jerk is a phenomenon that describes an involuntary muscle twitch during sleep.

Some say that experiencing hypnagogic jerks several times is an indication that you are going to die in your sleep eventually. These involuntary muscle twitches are associated to dreams of falling from a higher ground. For others, it is a warning sign that tells your body that it is in danger.

While this is utter hearsay, according to medical professionals, it's best to heed the warning. Regardless of the false nature of hypnagogic jerks leading to unexpected death during sleep, avoid ignoring the body's message to reduce instances of experiencing hypnagogic jerks.

Experiencing a hypnagogic jerk is an indication of the body's unhealthy state. Among the causes of hypnagogic jerks are stress, fatigue, and depression. Thus, the body is delivering the message that you need to relax, and mind your mental well-being.

Another common myth about dying in your sleep is that people tend to think that sleep apnea does not affect young children. Many people assume that sleep apnea only happens to adults. Well, this is not the case at all. Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age. It affects a lot of children as well. In fact, during the last ten years or so, the number of children suffering from sleep apnea has significantly increased. Experts and researchers attribute this increase to the rise in obesity in both young people and adults in industrialized countries.

Have you heard any myths about dying in your sleep?

Is Dying in Your Sleep Peaceful?

People say that dying in one's sleep is the most peaceful and painless way to go. No one can say for sure if a person died painlessly on his sleep or not, but a quick death due to a cardiac arrest or some other major event is generally perceived to be a relatively peaceful way to go with little pain and struggle.

We don't know for sure if it's painless or not, but dying in your sleep is the way most of us would choose to go. Especially if you have no tolerance for any form of suffering, death in your sleep seems less scary. Passing away out of the blue is quite unfair if you haven't maximized your time with your loved ones. This might mean that you have tons of unfinished business. The fact that you can die unexpectedly should serve as a reminder not to waste time. With limited time, you should let moments count.

Medical professionals say that people who die in their sleep experience agonal respiration moments prior to actual death. Agonal respiration, also called agonal breathing and gasping respiration, is a brainstem reflex. Usually, it accompanies myoclonus or involuntary muscle twitches and strange vocalizations.

In such a case, experiencing agonal respiration moments prior suggests that dying in your sleep involves a bit of struggle. The struggle can last as brief as two or three breaths or as long as a couple of hours. It's quite scary, if you think about it.

On the internet, there are numerous discussions about dying in your sleep. People continue to argue whether agonizing experiences are part of the deal. Unfortunately, the question may remain unanswered.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Questions & Answers

Question:

How can one prevent dying while sleeping?

Answer:

Dying in your sleep is often sudden and it happens when you least expect it. Most people who die in their sleep are clueless that it's happening to them. With that said, it's tricky attempting to prevent it from happening with you. Your best course of action is to be more vigilant with your sleeping habits. Getting enough sleep would be a good start. Sleeping well with less stress on your body helps a lot in making sure that your body does not break down while you are asleep.

If you are afflicted with a disease that puts you in a much higher risk to die in your sleep, consider getting a regular check-up and seek advice from your doctor. Ask him directly what his recommendations will be about avoiding dying in your sleep.

In order to prevent dying in your sleep, you should be fully aware of the main symptoms and signs of sleep apnea. Such symptoms include early morning awakenings, insomnia, mood and cognitive problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, bruxism, nocturia, snoring, and pauses in breathing.

There are a few terms often used to refer to the process of dying in your sleep. These terms are as follows: sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), sudden unexplained or unexpected nocturnal death syndrome (SUNDS), or sudden unexpected or unexplained death syndrome (SUDS). These terms are often used interchangeably. The scary thing about these syndromes is that diagnosis usually occurs post-mortem. It's only when a person has died that it's diagnosed as either SADS, SUDS, or SUNDS.

Another syndrome that falls under these is the Brugada Syndrome. This is a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal electrical activity in the heart. The abnormality significantly increases the risk for sudden cardiac death and abnormal heart rhythms. This syndrome was found out to be hereditary. About a quarter of those people diagnosed with it has at least one member of the family who also has the condition. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Brugada Syndrome.

Nope, the number of people dying in their sleep is too many to be considered rare. For every twelve people, one or two will die in their sleep. So it’s not really that rare. It happens to a good number of people. Again, we need to reiterate here the fact that there are so many reasons why a person can die in his or sleep. We are talking about dozens of illnesses, diseases, inherited genetic conditions, accidents, alcohol, drugs, blood clotting, etc.

Just think of the amount of time an average person spends sleeping. We literally spend at least one-third of our lives sleeping, dreaming, and dozing off. Even if you say that you get five to six hours of sleep a day, that’s still a lot of time for something to go wrong within that time frame.

If you die in your dream and you don’t wake up, this only means one thing: you have suffered from either SADS, SUDS, or SUNDS. The fact that you dreamed about it is irrelevant. If you died in your sleep, the autopsy should be able to determine if you died from SADS, SUDS, or SUNDS.

Now if you simply died and then didn’t wake up all in your dream, then you have nothing to be worried about. Whether you wake up or not in the dream, it’s still just a dream, and it should not have any effect in your life once you wake up. Dying in your dream does not mean you are going to die soon in your real life.

If you often dream about dying in your sleep and it feels too real to the point that it makes you very uncomfortable, don’t worry because you are not alone. Most people dream about dying in their dreams. It happens to most of us. You have nothing to be worried about even if the dream feels to real. Always keep in mind that dreams are mere workings of your brain during a deep sleeping state.

Don’t believe into the myth that you are going to die in real life if you have dreamed dying in your sleep. There is absolutely no reason why you should believe in this myth. It’s called a myth for a reason. There’s no truth to it and there’s no shred of scientific evidence to prove that it’s real. You can die multiple times in your dreams. That’s okay because it has zero to very little effect on your actual well-being.

Yes, dying in your sleep can happen for a variety of reasons. All of these possible reasons are discussed in more depth earlier in this article. I suggest that you read back for a better understanding of these reasons. There are many possible factors that play a role in a person’s death while he was sleeping.

That person could be very tired to the point that his body shuts down and just stops breathing. The person could be suffering from a circulatory or respiratory disease. As we have mentioned earlier, a large percentage of those who die in their sleep have histories of circulatory and respiratory problems. With that said, many people die in their sleep because their respiratory and circulatory organs are not functioning normally. Most of the time, this is why you die in your sleep.

Dying in your sleep can also be caused by alcohol and drug abuse. These substances can affect the way your body rests during your sleeping period. For instance, you have probably heard of people dying in their sleep due to drug overdoses or after suffocating on their own puke after a heavy drinking session. These are very common occurrences.

Yes, it’s more common than you think. Conservative estimates show that one to two people in twelve people die in their sleep. This high rate is because of the fact that death in sleep can be caused by a lot of factors. There are various reasons why a person can die in his sleep. The core reasons were discussed earlier in this article. These include cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, status asthmaticus, and pulmonary embolus.

There is a good reason why questions of this nature remain unanswered to this day. There is no way for us to determine what it feels like to die in your sleep. Is it painful? We are not sure. Even the medical and scientific community don’t know what it feels like to die in your sleep. However, the medical community explains that a person may experience discomfort in the moments before his death. Such discomfort can be caused by hard breathing and gasping for air.

Have you ever experienced the sensation of drowning? It’s quite possible that a person dying in his sleep may experience the same sensations in the minutes or seconds before he dies. This is often referred to as agonal respiration or agonal breathing. In a nutshell, dying in your sleep may be associated with a bit of struggle. With that said, dying in your sleep in not exactly painless. This is contrary to the beliefs of a lot of people that dying in your sleep is peaceful in the sense that you are not going to feel any significant pain and discomfort.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most common questions that people have about dying in their dreams. So what do dreams about your own death mean? There are many interpretations of death dreams but they all boil down to the fact that it symbolizes an ending or a transition in your life. However, before you become all superstitious, dreaming about your own death does not mean it will come true. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't a sign that you are going to die soon.

Again, there is no shred of scientific evidence to show a solid connection between dreaming about your own death and actually dying because of it. Dreaming is something that happens inside your brain. It's just your brain imagining things during deep sleep. Common sense dictates that this should not have any significant effect on your physical well-being. If you get stabbed in a dream, this does not mean you are going to get stabbed sometime after you wake up. In the same sense, you are not going to die even if you have dreamed about your own death.

Many people tend to assume that dying in your sleep is painless and free from any form of discomfort. However, this is not the case at all. You have to keep in mind that dying is a process. It’s not something that happens in blink. It’s not a light bulb wherein you turn it off by just turning the switch. It’s a process which means the body goes through a series of events which eventually lead to it shutting down for good.

It’s during these series of events that the dying person may feel pain and discomfort. Just think about it. Your body shuts down when your organs and systems start to break down and not function properly. For example, as your lungs weakens and slows down, it will be very difficult for you to breathe. For sure, this causes at least a little bit of pain and discomfort on the dying person. So let’s go back to the question: is dying in your sleep the best way to go? Probably if you can tolerate the bit of pain and discomfort prior to dying.

Again, this is a very common question but it's a question that can't be answered in a definitive manner. People who die in their sleep can't be revived so that they can tell what it was like as they transitioned from the realm of the living to the realm of the dead. It's just not possible. Of course, we can infer or make assumptions based on what is happening to the body when it shuts down during sleep.

So we can make informed guesses on what a person feels as he dies in his sleep. For example, we now know that deaths during sleep can be caused by illnesses like pneumonia. In this particular case, the patient may have felt a lot of pain and difficulty as he tries to make his lungs breathe and function properly. He may have felt drowning sensations before he loses consciousness and eventually die.

The bottom line here is that we cannot know for sure what a person feels as he dies in his sleep. There's a reason why there's very little medical and scientific literature on the matter. Good science dictates that the only way to learn what a person feels as he dies from his sleep is to bring back the dead and ask for more information. Unfortunately, dead men can't sing or dance. Once you are dead, you are dead.

There is a clear connection between passed-down genes and dying in your sleep. If there are people in your family who died in their sleep, there's an increased risk on your part. Being aware of this genetic connection can help you look for a life-saving treatment. If somebody in your immediate family died in his or her sleep, you should investigate the cause. Is it due to an illness or a different factor? It's possible that you have the same illness which means you may be susceptible to dying in your sleep.

Genetic conditions that may lead to sudden death during sleep include what are called channelopathies. This is a wide group of illnesses that disrupt the flow of ions such as sodium, calcium, and potassium in the cells of the human body. Channelopathies are also responsible for deadly circulatory conditions like heart arrythmias in young people.

The bottom line here is that you may be carrying genes that make you more susceptible to sudden deaths during sleep. In that sense, dying in your sleep can be hereditary.

There's no definitive answer to this question but rough estimates tend to show that 8% to 12% of the world's populations die in their sleep. That's eight to twelve people dying in their sleep out of one hundred people. This percentage seems high at first glance but it's understandable if you take into account the fact that there are a ton of reasons why people die in their sleep. Scientific research also shows that a large number of people who die in their sleep die close to 4 am.

Who do people tend to die in their sleep close to 4:00 am? Some experts believe that this may be due to the fact that the human body starts to transition from a deep sleep to a much more wakeful state during this time period. It's not beyond the realms of possibility for the body to fail and stop functioning during this period. This is but a general rule so it does not apply to everyone.

I repeat the rough statistics we have on this matter. Based on data made public by the American Heart Association or AHA, one in four people die from a form of heart disease. One in eight of these people with heart diseases will die on their sleep due to their heart condition. Just imagine the number of people in the United States alone who have all sorts of heart illnesses. We are talking about hundreds of people dying every single day on their sleep.

These numbers are for the United States alone. It will be much more if you take into account the numbers from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, we can’t come up with a rough estimate of the number of deaths worldwide because of the lack and absence of proper data. And there’s the fact that death rates among countries often vary significantly.

There is no specific term for the particular condition of being afraid to sleep because you might die in the process. However, there's a couple of terms that come close to defining the condition. There is the term "Somniphobia" that is defined as the fear of sleeping or fear of falling asleep. The term is derived from the Latin word “somnus” which means sleep, and “phobos” which means fear. This phobia is also sometimes referred to as Hypnophobia or the fear of being hypnotized. People who have Hypnophobia are scared of being hypnotized and rendered into a sleep-like state.

Take note that neither Somniphobia nor Hypnophobia specifically refers to the fear of dying in your sleep. They generally refer to the fear of falling asleep. These are rather broad terms that include several phobias including the fear of dying in your sleep. These are also sometimes referred to as sleep anxiety. People who suffer from sleep anxiety often panic with just the mere thought of falling asleep.

Somniphobia and Hypnophobia are among the least understood phobias because there's very little information on how and why they occur. They are among the least understood phobias, but they are among those that exact the most damage, physically and mentally, to those affected. Somniphobia leads to sleep deprivation, which in turn causes a myriad of other health problems. For example, a sufferer's immune system can crash and make him susceptible to various illnesses and diseases.

People who have Somniphobia or Hypnophobia try to avoid sleeping by all means for fear of something happening while they are asleep. For example, they are afraid that they might suffer a heart attack or a fatal accident. With the lack of sleep, the person wakes up in the morning mostly hopeless and powerless. For these reasons, many of those with Somniphobia or Hypnophobia are also often mentally depressed.

Although a heart attack doesn’t usually happen during sleep because blood pressure and heart rate often drop to low and relaxed levels, a heart attack can still happen during an unconscious state. A heart attack is characterized by a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sleep disturbances, night sweats, chest pains, and body pains. You might not be fully aware of these symptoms if they occur during your sleep.

You don’t exactly die immediately from a heart attack. You will die if the heart attack leads to sudden cardiac death or SCD. When your heart malfunctions, your heart starts to beat at dangerous levels. Your body’s oxygen supply gets cut out, and you will eventually start to lose consciousness. As it gets worse, your whole body eventually shuts down, and you die.

It doesn't mean anything. It just means that you dreamed about dying. However, that's where it ends. Your dream will not have any effect on your life the moment you wake up. The claim that you are going to die in real life if you dreamed about yourself dying is false. There's no connection between the two. If there are people who die after dreaming about their own deaths, these are purely coincidental.

So the next time you dream about your own death, don't worry, it's but a dream. Nothing more and nothing less. You are not going to die because of it, so you should stop worrying about it. Always stick to what the scientific community has to say about the matter. Don't make the mistake of taking superstitious explanations seriously.

There’s no way of knowing what it feels like to die in your sleep because no one ever died in their sleep and then come back to life to tell the tale. Most of the stories about what it feels like to die in your sleep come from people who have gone through near-death experiences or NDEs. But technically speaking, someone who experienced a near-death experience didn’t actually die. He was on the verge of death, but he didn’t get there.

Near-death experiences are often described with a variety of sensations that include the presence of bright lights, the experience of absolute dissolution, warmth, security, total serenity, feelings of levitation, and unexplained detachment from the body. Many people often make the mistake of assuming that these are the types of sensations you feel if you are dying in your sleep. There’s no way of knowing if this is true.

Again, this question can be answered with two perspectives. One, from the perspective of someone religious in which case he or she would say that prayers really help because a higher power answers genuine prayers. Two, from the standpoint of science in which case we know that there is no evidence connecting the power of prayer and the prevalence of dying in your sleep. First of all, there is a minimal number of studies done to try and determine if there's a correlation between prayer to a deity and a decrease in cases of dying in your sleep.

The bottom line here is that if you are a religious person and you think that praying helps, then, by all means, do it. But if you are going to attempt to look for scientific evidence that prayer helps, you are going to find no evidence at all. It's possible that prayer can help lessen the risks because you are going to sleep with a more peaceful heart and mind. You are free from stress, and you hit the bed with very little worries. Sure, this might help in letting you sleep better with less issues which means there's less risk of your body breaking down while you sleep. But you should not assume this to be a correlation between prayer and a decrease in cases of dying in your sleep. Correlation or causation between the two has never been scientifically established.

What kind of help should one get if they have a higher than average risk of dying in their sleep?

Answer:

If you have fully read this article, then you should already know by now that some people are more susceptible to dying in their sleep compared to other people. You may have realized that you are among those who have a higher risk of sleeping and then not waking up. Maybe a few people in your family have died in their sleep. This means that you carry some of their genes. As we have learned earlier in this article, dying in your sleep can be hereditary. It's also possible that you are afflicted with a respiratory or circulatory illness which increases your risks of dying in your sleep.

Let's say that you are at a higher risk, what should you do? The first thing you should do is consult with a medical professional who is an expert on the matter and seek his or her advice on how you can deal with the risks. A knowledgeable doctor can provide you with pointers that can help you lessen your risk. You have to understand that dying in your sleep can't be completely avoided. It happens unexpectedly and suddenly that most victims don't even see it coming.

There are a lot of stories out there about people dying in their sleep and then coming back to life. However, not a single one of these stories are completely true. Either the story is fabricated or it's supported by anecdotal evidence. It's just not possible for a person to physically die and then regain consciousness or retain a fully functioning body.

Most of these reports are attributed as near-death experiences of NDEs. “Near death” is the keyword here. The person was just on the verge of death so he was going through all sorts of hallucinations and other mental experiences. But technically speaking, he isn't dead. So let's go back to the question. Is it possible to die in your sleep and come back to life? No. If you are dead, you are dead. There's no coming back up from it. If somehow, you managed to recover and get to live another day, it just means that you didn't die after all. Something went wrong with your body but you didn't die.

There is no scientific evidence to show that it's possible for someone to die in his sleep and then regain consciousness. There are literally hundreds of stories and claims about people coming back from the dead. But not one of these stories and claims can stand when subjected to close scrutiny and vigorous investigation.

It's already an established fact that dying in your sleep is more common than you might think. Accumulated estimates from various sources show that one in eight people in the United States die in their sleep. This is still a high ratio even though it's a rough estimate. If these estimates are correct then that means more than 10% of Americans die during their sleep. However, you need to understand why this percentage is so high.

Earlier in this article, we have shown you the common reasons why people die in their sleep. There's quite a number of these reasons which include several common illnesses. So it's no wonder that the percentage of people dying during their sleep is high. The percentage is basically a sum of the percentages of deaths attributed to several diseases. The point here is that the 1 death in 8 people is sort of misleading. In reality, your chances of dying randomly in your sleep is much lower.

It is more common than you might think. Let us look at the numbers. According to the American Heart Association or AHA, one in four people check out because of heart disease and one in eight of these people will die on their sleep. That is for people with heart diseases alone. The number will be more if we add those who die from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is one of the top causes that lead to people dying in their sleep. Rough estimates show that sleep apnea affects more or less forty (42) million American citizens.

If we take these numbers into account, we come up with the estimate that about 10% of the U.S. population will meet their maker in between dreams. Majority of these deaths are due to cardiac arrest or heart attack. A good number of these deaths are also caused by obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.

These are merely rough estimates so you should take them with a good dose of skepticism. However, the numbers show that dying in your sleep is a lot more common than you would expect. Knowing the high risk of dying in your sleep should help you understand the condition and how to prepare for it.

Comments

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lisa Crissman

14 months ago

I just lost my mom at 78. My brother found her asleep upstairs, no signs of a struggle. She had her shoes on & a jacket to start her day. I'm not sure but I think maybe she layed back down for maybe she wasn't feeling well & never woke up. It's shocking to us, I also lost my dad about 2 mths in advance. I hate this, I'm so empty & her house & everything is not the same. I need spiritual lifting.

Lilly

19 months ago

Last Friday after dinner my Husband , my Father in law & I took a walk to a new ice cream shop nearby our house. We returned around 10pm & my Father in law took his usual medication for BP (not because he has any issue , but because he has a family history of it) and a medication that deals with constipation ( a medication he has been taking for a Long time). All was normal. He went to sleep.

On Saturday morning, I was up a bit later than usual and was a little surprised that he was not up yet. When I went to say good morning, he did not seem to respond. I immediately informed my husband who was then still asleep and simultaneously called an ambulance. The ambulatory crew attempted to revive him without success and he was declared dead. My Husband who had been Travelling all week kept asking me whether I felt anything abnormal and I can't think of a thing.

My sis in law is a doctor and said that such death does not need reason. Yet, more than the loss, the shock , it is the thought of some symptom of impeding death that puzzles us both .

janet

19 months ago

My son 25 yrs passed on in his sleep 6 moths ago. Though he had epilepsy heled a normal life, we chatted normally and bid each other good night. When I found him there was no sign that he had struggled bit it is very confusing to me and have so many questions in my mind. May his soul rest in peace

Ganesan

21 months ago

My mom 77 died in morning sleep. one month before treated for echo heart beet 18%.in ICU 3days and normal bed 3 days. After that she is alright and take food usually and good health .on that night go to bed and morning around 6.30AM go to bath room and again go to sleep but not wake up. The sadness was huge. what hapaning R. Ganesan.

Karyna

2 years ago

My mum died 40 days ago in her sleep.... she was only 42 years old..... life is so unfair and cruel and I don't even know the cause of her death but she was very weak person there was no day when something didn't hurt her.... it's been so hard for me.... I can only pray she is now in a better place.....

Carol

2 years ago

Daughter in law passed away three nights ago in perfect health leaving my son and three children. Family is devastated.

Abby

2 years ago

To all of you out there who have lost loved ones or friends,

I am very sorry. God will help you out of your grief if you

lean on Him and have others supporting you.

sateesh

2 years ago

i lost my father before 10 days..he was healthy gentleman without any disease.died in sleep,,i cant do anything for him..sorry dad

Letitia

2 years ago

May our Lord God bless you all and keep you in his heavenly peace. Seek out The Lord with prayer daily, give him your concerns ,anxieties and grief, you will be transformed. God Is love and light.

April

3 years ago

My brother died in his sleep almost 10 years ago. We never knew the reason why. RIP Mike !

Noori

3 years ago

My loving father passed away 2 weeks ago He was 73. Whole family still in shock and trying to figured out why that happened so suddenly . It is a big tragedy and my heart is broken so badly. I am in soo pain.My father had minor issues but nothing else that would cause death. May God bless his soul.

Karin

3 years ago

My 78 year mom was in hospital Nov 2014 for 2 weeks. After the doctors treated her for yellow jaundice, she was moved from ICU to a normal ward but I could see that she was immensely tired. I asked the nurses about this and they said it was due to the bone marrow and blood transfusion a couple days before. The Tuesday, two days before she was to go home, my mom was still talking and responding well to me but her tiredness stayed and her breathing changed to a very shallow fast breathing. This concerned me a great deal - I could sense my mom fading away. She had a hazy look in her eyes, as if the well known spark has left them. Again I asked the nursing staff about it and again I was told that she is just very tired due to the transfusion. That evening I phoned my brothers and sister to tell them that I am extremely concerned about mom's tiredness. Needless to say the next morning as I got to work I got a call from the hospital to come urgently but on arrival I was told my mom already passed away in her sleep during the early hours of the morning. If I could see the signs, why could the staff not see it and just be honest with me?

Keoni

3 years ago

I found out that my aunt died in her sleep about 2 weeks ago during I was in college. I was so shocked and I didn't know that. My family didn't tell me, but it was not their faults. They know/understand that I was very very busy at school for the reason. I guess they didn't want to either see me break my heart while school or get my grade would go down. Now I am soooo sad! Pray for my uncle that who lost his lovely wife. I think she is only 54 years old.

Tim

3 years ago

My dad passed away in his sleep at age 84 back in 2011 and my mom recently passed this year watching TV in her chair....don't know how much of this I can take.

mohindro

3 years ago

I think is better to die while sleeping I wish my end be with sleep

clm

3 years ago

i am depress truly want to join god

Sulabha Dhavalikar

3 years agofrom Indore, India

I know, it is shocking, especially when somebody in 40's dies. It's not fair.

But, my father always yearned for a sudden death and so do I.

Anonymous

3 years ago

My mother-in-law passed in her sleep Sunday November 8, 2015. She laid down for a nap with her husband right near her watching a football game. A few minutes later he saw she wasn't breathing and by then she was already gone. She was a very central figure in this family & we are lost without her. My heart is broken and we are all in shock. My heart goes out to all who experience loss of a loved one but these sudden, seemingly meaningless, deaths seem hardest to cope with. I pray one day we will understand the reason for this and believe she will greet us with open arms when we pass to our next stage, whatever that may be.

Kate

3 years ago

how do you know if your going to die in your sleep

Catfox

3 years ago

My sister died in her sleep about 2 months ago. She was just fine before she went upstairs to get in bed. She laughed, and talked to her daughter, kissed her good night and went to sleep. She never woke up again. We are so hurt and in shock.

Leanne

3 years ago

My husband died in his sleep 2 months ago and I was woken up with the death rattle. He was 45 years old and healthy. We still do not know what happened to him. I still talk to him and tell him I love and miss him so much.

jeanne

3 years ago

My nephew 44 years old died in his sleep. We think it was because he slept with his face in the pillow sometimes.

Eb

3 years ago

For anyone to judge another letme tell you something. ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE You have no idea what someone else offs going through our why they maybe so depressed and would rather die. So before you degrade them walk in their sites for one day and it may change. By the way I wish I'd for in my sleep tonight.......

Fred M.

3 years ago

My father also died in his sleep on the morning of Sept. 14th 2015, he was 88 years old, he was fine the night before, gave him some water and put him to sleep. he had kidney failure and was on dyalisis for 2 years. I'm pretty sure these health problems contributed to his death, and I hope he was at peace when he passed. I frequently told him I loved him, I miss him very much.

Cc

3 years ago

Our darling friend died in her sleep and was found yesterday morning while her and her friends were camping . Rest in peace k

Dejavu

3 years ago

I think dying while sleeping is not different when you are awake. since our brain is responsible for interpretting pain and fear. Awake or asleep, our brain never stop processing information. There are chance that you might experience a more horrable death while dreaming.

huhu

3 years ago

my mom passed away in her sleep right beside me....

PAULA

3 years ago

My older sister died in her sleep 2 months ago, it is still a nightmare that sometimes i think am dreaming, she was only 39 yrs old,its is so painful and i always pray to Gd to give us peace, its not easy for parents to bury their child and its difficult to lose a sibling,our lives were changed forever.i miss her so much

Nichole

3 years ago

My mother passed away in her sleep exactly one week ago. She had minor issues but nothing that would cause death . I had just talked to her at 7pm then I found her at 8am . It's been the most painful because she was only 47. I just miss my mom.

Nada

3 years ago

My father died in his sleep 2 days ago. He left us without saying anything, without warning. I miss him a lot.

Mahua

3 years ago

I lost my father one and half months ago... He died in his sleep... We can't come out from the shock... And can't find the reason what had happend to him?

joe venice

3 years agofrom Ohio

My Wife died in her sleep we just celebrated our 13th year together as husband and wife she had had health issues and said a few times she wanted to if she had to pass away in her sleep and at home I loved her and her not here you feel so sick inside I hope she is with God

vee

3 years ago

I know of a few friends, co workers and my own beloved who died in their sleep. We all come close at times in the wee hours when our respitory goes so low it can malfunction due to the brain doesn't g et enough blood flow, and so then we slip into a deeper state n some don't wake up.a friend just passed today in her sleep and her mom found her. From infants to old age, we can be called to God. My heart hurts for those who lose someone this way-because its SO unexpected!

We need to always show love so in case this happens to us, then notbing is left unsad.

Colorado state of mind

Viswa

3 years ago

My uncle died last night in sleep.. Very very sad.. Such a gentle man.. He is no more.. Every one shocked

unknown

3 years ago

:'( so sad....to those who has loved ones that passed away condolence ..... In my family I never experience to had a loved ones that died in their sleep...... to me to think of it it might be so hard to accept that your loved ones was ok then the morning they wont woke up..... I find it so very very sad.... I wish they wouldn't suffer that death..... For me I experience it once in my sleep..... That I fell asleep and then someone comes close to me (black thing...its in human form but its like shadows) and pin me I couldn't say or shout and can't move either..... All you need to do is pray..... And that worked on me..... I'm so full and tired that night....... and I'm from Philippines..... And I truly believe that god never leaves our side.. Alll we need to do is pray... Thanks

Destiny

3 years ago

I just got back from the hospital I banged my head on the cement when I fell from skateboarding I was bleeding the doctor said I was fine is just a cut nothing big & that I hit the hardest part of my head lucky I don't know why but I'm paranoid that if I sleep I won't wake up

Ann Marie

3 years ago

My wee girls granny just passed away in her sleep we think last night. So sudden we are heart broken she was so good to ambe 6 her granddaughter and was like a mum to her when i suffered from post natal depression. Rosie we loved you and will be truley missed sleep tight granny.xox

Pretizess

3 years ago

My cousin passed away yesterday in his sleep. We don't have any idea what causes of his death. My uncle decided to autopsy him and they found out his pancreas is swollen and the stomach has scratches (ulcer). He is too young (28 yrs old) and its really hard to accept. May he rest in peace.

edith

3 years ago

I have a coworker just passed in her sleep she was in good health pray for the family thinks

Dextry92

3 years ago

My sister died unexpectedly and suddenly in her sleep at her apartment/flat ten days ago (12th June 2015, morning time GMT/BST) at the age of just 31. Unfortunately she suffered a brain injury when she was 17 and suffered from epileptic seizures as a result and was at risk of SUDEP (sudden death in epilepsy), she'd have about one or two big ones a year and end up hospitalised, but would be fine within a day or two.

The post-mortem didn't confirm that for sure, but that is what we suspect may have killed her.

It is upsetting and frightening in any case to be one day to be talking to someone and laughing with them, and then to find their lifeless body in the morning as my mum and I did (who were, by sheer coincidence, visiting her). I am glad she no longer suffers and that she died in her sleep presumably quickly and peacefully as there's no evidence she struggled, suffered or was awake, but to be honest it does little to console your grief that the person you love is gone..

Anonymous

3 years ago

I am heartbroken and sad.Mi best friend and soulmate passed in his sleep and was found deceased on last week.I saw his body after the paramedics and police found him on his bed.He had alienated himself from myself and everyone for two weeks and one month.I wonder was he preparing himself to leave the planet.I love and miss him very much.He was 83 and had many health issues that received little or no medical attention.If I could put breathe into his body and give him great health,I would be more than happy to do so.I love him dearly and will never forget him.He was very close and dear to me.

Fuck Life

3 years ago

I want to die in my sleep soooo bad I often beg God to take me

anonymous

3 years ago

i wish to die it's a stupid thing that people that want to live actually end up dying and the ones that want to die end up living why is that why is it when someone wants to die nothing happnes why is it that life is a game that only god can understand and play why is life a struggle

Omar Huerta

3 years ago

I lost my father in his sleep at 66 years, 3 weeks from now , I never lost someone that means a lot to me , the pain I feel I never felt . I speak to myself everyday at night . I tell my self why can't we live in a life with enternal happyness but then again that is heaven I speak of. Can this earth really be hell ? No it cant be right ,then why are some fortunate then others ? All I know is god has a plan for us , whatever the plan is I hope and pray that its better then I imagen . Im sorry for all the ones that lost a loved one. God has his plans for us the man made can not take away -

Waa

3 years ago

A long time ago, when I was about six years old my anut was dead from sleeping, i was so sad, I cried for days...

Lekshmysankar

3 years ago

I m not happy. I am in love with a lovable boy named SankarGanesh. He also loving me. Because of his Family condition, he is saying that he wont marry me. And he is saying that love is a disturbance for his studies. Who said love is disturbance. i think its not like that. I am in true love with him. I want to marry him. Without him, my life is empty. I don't know what to do.. so i want to die.. i am not happy in my life without him. I love my SankarGanesh.

pinky

3 years ago

I wish to be alive forever

joyi

3 years ago

I feel depressed...my life will never be enjoying

united

3 years ago

Im taken back..

peace

3 years ago

I wish i could die tonight in my sleeps

C

3 years ago

I hate that people say I wish I could die in my sleep it pisses me off so much ! Why would you want to leave your family behind, why would you want to put them threw that and then not knowing why or if you went peacefully that's soo wrong wishing that on your self so sick.

Becca

3 years ago

I found my dad (my whole world my wonderful dad a single parent father of 2) dead this morning in bed. He was in great health and a very happy person. He was so peaceful looking he can't of felt any pain. My heart goes out to any person suffering the shock of death of a truly loved one X

Trish

3 years ago

My family friends daughter died at 17 she was healthy went to bed and never woke up so tragic she went to her junior prom

Lori

3 years ago

I found this to be very informative. On March 19, 2015 a friend of mine of 17 years died in his sleep. The day before we talked over the phone. He seemed to be in good spirit and health. He even said I'll talk to you tomorrow. He was 53 years old.

Sulabha Dhavalikar

4 years agofrom Indore, India

Very sad.

Angelica

4 years ago

A young girl that goes to my high school was found dead today. She died in her sleep. She was only 16 maybe 17

Beidnoy

4 years ago

I am so scared to die in my sleep, I am 32 and was diagnosed with heart disease. I get palpatations in my sleep... I have two little babies that need me. Pray every night that I awake in the morning.

amar

4 years ago

My wife died in her sleep 2 nights ago. She was 41 and in great health. Me and my 3 children are totally devastated....We had no warning or preparation...A tragedy!

Angel

4 years ago

Angel do not worry about astral projection turning dangerous if u feel is to much to habdle.. Think and count backwards 321 Up. That gets you back at once

Open

4 years ago

I always wake up in the mildde of the night if I've been drinking the night before.Alcohol metabolizes into sugar, and a sugar rush in the mildde of the night probably isn't so good for sleep.

Krzysztof Willman

4 years agofrom Parlin, New Jersey

Very interesting hub and it's a bit unnerving how you can just fall into eternal sleep one night. I guess if there was a way to choose your death then dying in your sleep would be the best option as long as it's painless.

Voted up.

Hurt

4 years ago

i wished I could die in my sleep yet I worry about my kids without a mom since all 3 of my kids have no dad

Adina

4 years ago

My mom just died in her sleep , I don't know why, is terrible

dia

4 years ago

Wish i could die tonight.... :'( in my sleep

Angel

4 years ago

Nope... Never wish to die in your sleep. Someone or something might take your soul out of your sleeping body... I just had an astral projection last night and this is really frightening because I saw a black figure hanging on the wall beside the bed where I was lying. After walking around our house, I found my housemate sleeping peacefully in his room, everything seemed normal except from the unusual darkness and heavy weights on my shoulders. Then I realized that it wasn't just a dream after all. I rushed to find my room and bed again while praying to God to give me another chance. After finding my body lying on the same bed, I immediately got back and woke up breathing heavily.

vcbgarcia

4 years ago

I'm scared that anyone I care about 2 people just don't wake up in there sleep but there healthy I can't sleep I can't I cant I cant take this I need help

josh

4 years ago

My cousin died In his sleep and was only 23 I love and miss u cuz

Allie

4 years ago

This is pretty cool. Well written as well. My nannies used to tell me the myths about dying from a nightmare. I still wonder if this can actually happen, and if it is related to SUNDS.

lala

4 years ago

My baby bro died in their sleep

love 123

4 years ago

Its sad to know that your family members have passed away . I'm sorry for the people that lost their brother,sister, mother or some one in the past. I wish you the best of luck to you. I wish you guys feel better. My name is Lian and I'm 11 years old.

Hs0709

4 years ago

I wish I could die like this. I think it's the best way to go. No pain and peaceful.

lalalal

4 years ago

I wish i could die like this

Neelam Canon

4 years ago

Karen I can understand your pain...my mother passed away one month ago in her sleep... I am still under shock

Karen

4 years ago

My mother in law passed away in her sleep last night. Painlessly and peaceful, the best way to go.

Karen

4 years ago

My brother died in his sleep a year ago. It's very painful to think about. I used to believe it was the best way to go (probably is) but since he was in his early thirties and in good health, he shouldn't have had died. I often wonder if he was dreaming, what were his last thoughts, or if he felt pain.

Chr

4 years ago

It is so sad when people die in their sleep and nobody knows what it felt like dying in their sleep I hate it

:-()

4 years ago

I almost died on my sleep last night it's scary

Rajiv Thakur

4 years ago

My wife died in her sleep she was 42 years old and having rheumatic heart disease what may be the cause can any one tell me?

Steve j8

4 years ago

I just want to say that I have often woken up gasping for air. It has been frightening and has happened to me probably a dozen times. I am in my early thirties. I suffer with depression at times major so perhaps that is a cause. I know it has nothing to do with my heart that this has happened. So this by these accounts it must be sleep apnea which can obviously affect you if you have severe depression. Or there are more causes.

One time I even stopped breathing for minutes. I know this because I had a nde. When I 'awoke' there was absolutely no air in my lungs which is also how I know I wasn't breathing for a while. I have never felt any pain or anything during any episode of stopping to breath in my sleep.

jennifer

4 years ago

I just had a friend whos daughter just found her dead

Bri

4 years ago

My aunt had died in her sleep, it was all of sudden kind of thing. She was fine the night before she went to bed and never woke up. So when there is someone that you love,just tell them you love them, because you never know what could happen.

AUTHOR

Sree Lakshmi

4 years ago

thanks @Sulabha

Sulabha Dhavalikar

4 years agofrom Indore, India

It is the best thing to happen in old age. My late father always wished for this death. But it shouldn't happen to infants or anyone else.

Informative hub. In fact all your hubs are good.

Madeline

4 years ago

This helped a lot thanks

AUTHOR

Sree Lakshmi

4 years ago

@Twalesha : So sad and sorry :'(

Twalesha

4 years ago

My co-worker died in her sleep between last night and this morning

AUTHOR

Sree Lakshmi

4 years ago

@mariah: :)

mariah

4 years ago

so much people are die in there sleep but why somebody help them that are die in there sleep

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